Baseball batting practice device

ABSTRACT

A baseball batting practice device including a ball mounted in a position to be struck by a batter. The ball is slidably disposed on a short vertical elastic cord. Each end of this cord is provided with a ring. The top ring is slidably disposed on an upper horizontal wire stretched between two vertical posts. The bottom ring is slidably disposed on a lower wire which is parallel to the upper one. The vertical elastic cord has a stop to limit downward sliding of the ball.

United States Patent John Lingbeek;

Helen Dorothy Lingbeek, both of Mammoth Spring, Ark. 72554 [21] Appl. No. 783,457

[22] Filed Dec. 9, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 [72] inventors [54] BASEBALL BATTING PRACTICE DEVICE l,554,409 9/1925 Coffee 273/26 2,680,022 6/1954 Walden 273/26 OTHER REFERENCES Consumers Bulletin, Dec., 1962, pg. 23.

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Theatrice Brown ABSTRACT: A baseball batting practice device including a ball mounted in a position to be struck by a batter. The ball is slidably disposed on a short vertical elastic cord. Each end of this cord is provided with a ring. The top ring is slidably disposed on an upper horizontal wire stretched between two vertical posts. The bottom ring is slidably disposed on a lower wire which is parallel to the upper one. The vertical elastic cord has a stop to limit downward sliding of the ball.

PATENTED nt2a Ian FIG.|

INVENTOR.

JOHN LINGIBEEK HELEN DOROTHY LINGBEEK BASEBALL BATTING PRACTICE DEVICE This invention relates to baseball batting practice device, wherein a captive ball may be struck by a ball bat causing it to travel along the wires in one direction, and return to the batter at approximately the same speed at which it was hit, allowing itto be struck at again, much in the same manner as a pitched ball. This device involves certain useful and novel combination of parts and features of construction with a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation, affords amusement, physical training in the art of batting a baseball, concentration, and timing, where by improved efficiency in actually batting a baseball results, for both right and left-handed batters.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that it can be used in a comparatively limited space, and which will allow the ball to be struck with all possible force without damage to the device, or surrounding fixtures.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which will most closely resemble a pitched ball, with sideway motion which produces in curves, and out curves, and up and down motion, which produces up curves and down curves, and change of speed pitches according to the force the ball was hit.

Another object of this invention-is that it is a device that is easily installed by stretching two wires, such as clothesline wires, between two uprights, such as clothesline posts, trees garage, sheds, etc., spaced as to resemble the strike zone of the batter, and can be easily raised, or lowered as desired.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates, from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein,

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of my device;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation of my device.

ln the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description. ls are post, or trees, poles, buildings, or any supports sufiiciently spaced to support the wires. 2, for example, clothesline posts.

2s are wires, or cord, rope, string, tied to the posts 1 3's are rings, hooks, pulleys, or other means that will allow low friction while sliding along wires 2. 4 is an elastic cord, rubber cord, cord, spring, or other suitable means to allow suitable springy action. 5 is a ball of any size, shape, or material desired, with a hole through it large enough to receive a grommet 8 shown in FIG. 2. 6 is a tube, spring, or other springy material to hold ball 5 in position on cord 4. 7'5 are stops to keep rings 3 from traveling the entire length of the wire and allowing ball 5 to travel beyond to the full stretch of the elastic cord 4 allowing it to spring back along wires 2 towards the opposite post 1 where it can be struck at again as many times as the skill of the batter permits. 8 is a grommet shown in F IG. 2 to fit inside ball 5 of sufficient inside diameter to allow ball 5 to slide up and down the elastic cord 4 freely from the top of tube 6 to the bottom of the top ring 3.

The method of using the device is believed to be apparent from the above. Briefly in the position of FIG. 1, a batter takes a conventional stance forwardly of the ball 5 on either side of the wires 2's depending on whether he bats right or left handed, and swings at the ball 5, causing the latter to move forward, horizontally guided and controlled by the wires 2, which in no way interferes with the batter swinging, until it reaches the stops 7 which stops the rings 3 but allows the ball 5 to continue its forward motion to the full stretch of the elastic cord 4, and forces it to snap back to the batter with approximately the same speed as it was hit, allowing it to be struck at again as many times as the skill of the batter permits. The rings 3 permit sideway motion simulating curve balls. The ball 5 with the grommet 8 inserted fits loosely on the elastic cord 4 and slides up and down when in motion simulating up curves and down curves. And change of speed pitches are produced according to the force the ball was hit reviousl While various changes may be ma e in the etail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A baseball practice device comprising two spaced parallel wires stretched horizontally between vertical posts, a ring slidably attached to each wire, a vertically positioned elastic cord having each end secured to one of said rings, a ball having a grommet extending diametrically therethrough, said elastic cord extending through said grommet, said grommet having an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of said elastic cord to allow said ball to move freely on said elastic cord, a resilient stop fixed on said elastic cord below said ball to limit downward movement of said ball, and a stop fixed on the corresponding end of each wire adjacent one of said posts to stop forward horizontal movement of the rings.

2. The practice device of claim 1 wherein said resilient stop is a springy tube.

i l i 

1. A baseball practice device comprising two spaced parallel wires stretched horizontally between vertical posts, a ring slidably attached to each wire, a vertically positioned elastic cord having each end secured to one of said rings, a ball having a grommet extending diametrically therethrough, said elastic cord extending through said grommet, said grommet having an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of said elastic cord to allow said ball to move freely on said elastic cord, a resilient stop fixed on said elastic cord below said ball to limit downward movement of said ball, and a stop fixed on the corresponding end of each wire adjacent one of said posts to stop forward horizontal movement of the rings.
 2. The practice device of claim 1 wherein said resilient stop is a springy tube. 